Pedestrians use the covered sidewalk in front of Whiskey Row. Officials do not plan to replace it for another year or two.

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The covered sidewalk the city erected nearly three years ago in front of the historic buildings on Main Street known as Whiskey Row, just east of the KFC Yum! Center, is hurting business on the block, restaurant operators say.

"It's a very big problem. I think it has definitely cost us customers," said Mike O'Shea, an owner of O'Shea's Irish Pub, 123 W. Main St.

"It's been a blight ever since it was put up. The area isn't as inviting as it should be, because of that," said George Timmering, a co-owner of Bearno's By the Bridge pizza restaurant, 131 W. Main. "We have survived and done OK. But I think we ...